Hamilton by-law officers tell people living outside city hall to leave immediately

After protesting for a little more than a month people living in tents outside Hamilton City Hall were told to leave immediately Thursday morning.

Several unhoused individuals and their supporters have been camped outside on city property since May even though staff said the park’s bylaw would be enforced.

“Not giving us a time frame, not giving us any way to move our stuff and not telling us where to go,” Storm Mallinson says.

Hamilton police were also there but they wouldn’t comment and told us to reach out to the city.

“A lovely bylaws with their police officers coming in to tell us that we cannot have a protest with our belongings, which we carry with us. We can take our protest over there in the beating heat without our stuff,” Izzee Emmanuel says.

The demonstration at city hall started after people were forced out of encampments along the escarpment rail trail. but now after more than a month, it’s grown into a large encampment with dozens of people.

READ MORE: Encampment protest at Hamilton City Hall reaches one month, facing threats of removal

On Thursday, people were seen packing up their belongings and some say they were given this trespass notice. Izzee Emmanuel packed up his tent to avoid the notice but still said he isn’t going anywhere.

“I’m not planning on leaving unless they can tell me where to go and I don’t think they can,” Storm Mallinson says.

“Every time I ask, where should we go? Where can I put up my tent and not be bugged? Oh, we don’t know. They always say, oh, the shelters are always open. No,” Emmanuel says.

Residents and supporters say they want to talk to city councillors and the Mayor about the homelessness crisis in the city.

“I understand, like a lot of people may take advantage of what’s going on here, but there’s a lot of people that actually really do need help and, you know, trying to take advantage of the system and what they’re offered. But things don’t seem to be looking too good for them right now,” supporter Brian Bristo says.

CHCH News has reached out to the city for comment but has not heard back.

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